Structure for hiding HVAC and other rooftop mechanical equipment

ABSTRACT

A modular structure for hiding HVAC and other rooftop mechanical equipment is provided. The structure is configured to provide easy access around the HVAC and other rooftop equipment, while reducing the amount of holes modifications to the mechanical equipment. The structure allows for a variety of covering walls to hide the rooftop equipment. The structure includes the ability to connect modular support and frame members in a variety of configurations depending on the size and shape of the equipment that needs to be hidden.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to United Kingdom Patent Application serial number GB1801776.4, filed on Feb. 2, 2018, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety at least by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to structures and construction but more particularly to a structure for hiding HVAC and other rooftop mechanical equipment.

2. Description of Related Art

On large commercial buildings HVAC and related mechanical equipment can be found on the roof. In some instances, during the design phase, architects may incorporate some decorative elements designed for hiding such equipment from view. Recently, some municipalities have amended their building codes so that it makes it mandatory for buildings to hide such equipment. This new rule applies to new and existing buildings when renovations are done involving the roof and the mechanical equipment. In both cases, installing a structure for hiding rooftop mechanical equipment is not always an easy task. First, trying to install a new structure on a rooftop without adversely affecting the roof surface is a challenge, as one does not want a leaky roof. Also, a roof is not always level because rainwater drainage requires a slope, which adds a level of difficulty when trying to build a level structure. The added structure must not be too heavy so as to add weight beyond what the building was designed for. The mechanical equipment should not bear the load of the structure. Also, for practical reasons, the new structure must not impede the ingress and egress of air flow in and around the equipment. Finally, special openings and access ways must be provided so that maintenance can be done unimpeded by accessing the equipment from the outside as well as getting inside the structure so as to also be able to walk around and service various parts of the equipment. No adaptive structural system that can provide such features exists. Consequently, there is therefore room for improvement in that area.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention a structure for hiding HVAC and other rooftop mechanical equipment is provided, comprising a plurality of pre-cut, adjustable metallic frame and support members essentially consisting of vertical support members, vertical frame members, horizontal frame members, ceiling support members, and bottom retaining members, wherein the plurality of pre-cut, adjustable metallic frame and support members are configured to surround the rooftop equipment while providing a passageway enabling a user to provide maintenance on the rooftop equipment; and, each bottom retaining member including a webbing section extending integrally from a base portion of the bottom retaining member, wherein the webbing section is mechanically fastened to a bottom portion of the rooftop equipment providing structural support to the structure.

In one embodiment, wherein the plurality of pre-cut, adjustable metallic frame and support members are extruded or cold formed from a selected metallic material in a shape selected from the group consisting of: square, rectangular, or “C” shaped. In another embodiment, a plurality of upper connectors connected to a top section of the rooftop equipment by way of the ceiling support members is provided. In one embodiment, the ceiling support members are extendible in length via extensions, wherein the extensions are configured and sized to slide and engage with the ceiling support members. In another embodiment, the extensions may be locked in place with fasteners via a plurality of aligned openings provided on the extensions and the ceiling support members. In yet another embodiment, each vertical support members rest on a pancake configured to spread the load eliminating potential roof damage. In one embodiment, the vertical support and vertical frame members include hooks enabling the installation of a screen, wherein the screen is configured to hide the roof equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a structure for hiding HVAC and other rooftop mechanical equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is perspective view of the structure for hiding HVAC and other rooftop mechanical equipment with a curtain wall element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A-C are perspective view of various components for the structure for hiding HVAC and other rooftop mechanical equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a top view of a mechanical equipment component with the structure installed around it element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a side view of a mechanical equipment component, platform, and bottom retaining member according to embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A-B are various views of a lever component according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out their invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein to specifically provide a structure for hiding HVAC and other rooftop mechanical equipment.

Referring now to any of the accompanying FIGS. 1-5, a structure 10 for hiding HVAC 12 and other rooftop mechanical equipment is illustrated. In one embodiment, the structure comprises a plurality of vertical support members 14, vertical frame members 16, horizontal frame members 18, ceiling support members 20, and bottom retaining members 22. In a preferred embodiment, the frame and support members previously mentioned are pre-cut, adjustable, and constructed from a metallic material, such as aluminum, galvanized steel, or any other suitable material. The frame and support members are extruded or cold formed from the selected material in a shape such as, square, rectangular, or “C” shaped.

In one embodiment, the frame and support members are size, shaped, and joined such that the HVAC and rooftop mechanical equipment is surrounded, yet still providing access around the equipment such that maintenance workers can perform any necessary maintained on the equipment when needed. The challenge with this type of design is that generally, structures of this type would require diagonal braces for structural strength. However, diagonal braces would block the necessary access way around the equipment. The provided access and unencumbered passageway around the equipment is a particular advantage of the present invention. To provide the necessary structure and support, webbing sections 34 are provided, wherein the webbing section extend integrally from base portion 36 of bottom retaining members 22. In one embodiment, the webbing sections are mechanically fastened to a bottom portion 17 of the rooftop mechanical equipment. Further, upper connectors 38 are connected to a top section 19 of the rooftop mechanical equipment by way of ceiling support members 20.

In one embodiment, the ceiling support members are extendible in length via extension 24, which are configured and sized to slide and engage with the ceiling support members. In one embodiment, the extension may be locked in place with pins, nuts, bolts, or similar fasteners via openings 26. The aligned openings are provided in rows on both the extensions and ceiling support members. The base portion and ceiling support members connect with the vertical support members as illustrated. In one embodiment, the ceiling support members connect to other ceiling support members via connecting brackets 32. In one embodiment, the vertical support members rest on pancakes 28 configured for spreading the load to eliminate potential roof damage.

In one embodiment, hooks 32 are provided on the vertical support members and vertical frame members enabling the installation of a screen 30 (best seen in FIG. 2), wherein the screen provides a means for hiding the HVAC and mechanical roof equipment. Latches (not illustrated) may be provided on the screen to engage with the hooks.

In a preferred embodiment, the structure is not secured directly to the roof, but rather by utilizing the existing roof equipment. In this manner, no drilling into the roof is required. Specifically, the roof equipment is installed on a raised platform 21, wherein holes are drilled into the bottom portion 17 of the roof equipment (best seen in FIG. 5B). This method comprises steps (a) drilling holes through a bottom portion 17 of the roof mechanical equipment; (b) inserting threaded inserts 42 into the drilled holes; (c) squeezing the threaded inserts so that they bulge in such a way that they cannot be pulled out from the bottom portion; (d) testing the strength of the insertion by partially screwing in a bolt 44 so as to let room for hooking the head of the bolt with a rod member 46 forming part of a lever 50; and (e) hooking a hanging weighing scale 48 at a distal end of the lever, and using a fulcrum part 52 of the lever pressed against the bottom portion, pulling on the lever so as to exert a pre-determined pulling force on the bolt, as measured by the scale, a way of testing the quality of the insertion of the threaded insert into the bottom portion.

This validation ensures that the bottom frame of the mechanical equipment can bear any environmental load, such as wind applied to the structure. If the test is successful, bolt 44 is removed and bottom retaining member 22 is installed and the bolt with a washer is bolted in. Once the bottom retaining member is installed, the rest of the structure may be assembled.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features and or method acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, the labels such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise, counter clockwise, up, down, or other similar terms such as upper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, oblique, proximal, distal, parallel, perpendicular, transverse, longitudinal, etc. have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions/orientations between various portions of an object.

In addition, reference to “first,” “second,” “third,” and etc. members throughout the disclosure (and in particular, claims) are not used to show a serial or numerical limitation but instead are used to distinguish or identify the various members of the group. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A structure for hiding rooftop equipment comprising: a plurality of pre-cut, adjustable metallic frame and support members essentially consisting of vertical support members, vertical frame members, horizontal frame members, ceiling support members, and bottom retaining members, wherein the plurality of pre-cut, adjustable metallic frame and support members are configured to surround the rooftop equipment while providing a passageway enabling a user to provide maintenance on the rooftop equipment; and, each bottom retaining member including a webbing section extending integrally from a base portion of the bottom retaining member, wherein the webbing section is mechanically fastened to a bottom portion of the rooftop equipment providing structural support to the structure.
 2. The structure for hiding rooftop equipment of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pre-cut, adjustable metallic frame and support members are extruded or cold formed from a selected metallic material in a shape selected from the group consisting of: square, rectangular, or “C” shaped.
 3. The structure for hiding rooftop equipment of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of upper connectors connected to a top section of the rooftop equipment by way of the ceiling support members.
 4. The structure for hiding rooftop equipment of claim 1, wherein the ceiling support members are extendible in length via extensions, wherein the extensions are configured and sized to slide and engage with the ceiling support members.
 5. The structure for hiding rooftop equipment of claim 4, wherein the extensions may be locked in place with fasteners via a plurality of aligned openings provided on the extensions and the ceiling support members.
 6. The structure for hiding rooftop equipment of claim 1, wherein each vertical support members rest on a pancake configured to spread the load eliminating potential roof damage.
 7. The structure for hiding rooftop equipment of claim 1, wherein the vertical support and vertical frame members include hooks enabling the installation of a screen, wherein the screen is configured to hide the roof equipment. 